File compressor



Aug. 11, 1953 J. w. KENT 2,643,337

FILE COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l (Ittorneg Aug. 11, 1953 J. w. KENT 2,648,337

FILE COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 8, 1950 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I 24 as 5/ (3. 87

l1111111111 Illllll/Il/Illllllilllllplllrrlrl IIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIO 1111 l3 IOZ 3nnentor T 36 /OZ Aug. 11, 1953 J. w. KENT FILE COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 11, 1953 FILE COMPRESSOR John W. Kent, Buffalo,

ton Rand Inc., New of Delaware N. Y., assignor to Reming- York, N. Y., a corporation Application November 8, 1950, Serial N 0. 194,627

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vertical files and particularly to such files in which there is provided mechanism for compressing the cards, papers, or the like contained therein so as to hold them tightly in place in the tray.

The invention comprehends the provision in a vertical filing tray of a compressor of novel construction which may be fixedly mounted on the front of the tray or movably mounted on the follower in the tray.

The invention further comprehends the provision in a vertical filing tray of a compressor which may be operated independently of the operation of the follower in the tray.

The invention also provides a compressor for a vertical file tray which includes a compressor plate that is movable longitudinally of the tray and supported against tilting.

Still further comprehended by the invention is the provision in a vertical filing tray of a compressor which is durable in construction, easily operated, and which may be locked in extended position.

The compressor of the present invention may be used with any type of vertical file tray but is particularly useful in file trays used for tabulating or punched cards. Such cards are preferably stored in long drawers or trays since usually many of these cards will be used at a time in tabulating the information punched thereon, and the use of small drawers with a smaller capacity such as are customarily employed in a manual filing system is not, therefore, convenient. Consequently, it is dimcult tocompress the cards with the usual follower provided although compression is desirable to prevent warping of the cards in order that they will properly feed into and be usable in the automatic machines with which they are employed. The use of a compressor constructed in accordance with the present invention which will positively compress the cards to such an extent that a file tray full of cards may be inverted without danger of the cards falling out is very desirable.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of the front end portion of a card tray constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying both a fixed compressor and a movably mounted compressor, the compressor plates of both compressors being shown in card-compressing position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse cross-section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the follower latch in locked position and with portions of the follower broken away to Show the construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse cross-section similar to Fig. 2 but with the follower latch disengaged; I

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal cross-section taken on line 2-rl of Fig. 1 illustrating details of the tray construction and showing both compressor plates in card-compressing position and the follower in latched position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal cross-section similar to Fig. 4 showing both compressor plates in retracted position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, transverse cross-section taken on line 5-6 of Fig. 4 showing details of the operating mechanism for one of the card compressors; and

Fig. '7 is an exploded view showing in perspective and partly in section a portion of one of the follower tracks, the follower and, disassembled, the parts of the compressor mounted on the follower.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the card tray designated generally by the numeral I l comprises avertical outer front [2, a vertical inner front It, a pair of longitudinally-extending spaced body members I4, and a back I I, all of which may be formed of suitable sheet metal such as steel or aluminum. The outer front l2 of the tray H has a front wall l9 in which there is provided a label holder having an embossed rim 2i and a plurality of outwardly projecting punched tongues 22 suitable for holding a drawer label in position. The top of the front wall 59 is bent rearwardly and, except at the corners, downwardly, to form a top flange 2 The bottom of the front wall i9 is likewise bent rearwardly to form a bottom flange 26 adapted to support the lower front ends of the body members M.

Two body members M are employed, each being the mirror image of the other and comprising a side wall 28 having an outwardly projecting channel portion 29 formed therein intermediate the top and bottom thereof and a bottom, inwardly-directed flange 3i which is provided along its free edge rearwardly of the flange with a return bend v32 that strengthens and stiffens the edge. The tops of the side walls 28 are rolled to provide outwardly projecting beads 33.

The outer front I2 of the card tray 1 I is preferably attached to the body members I by welding. The forward portion of the bottom flange 3! of each of the body members is supported on the bottom flange 24} of the front and attached thereto. Each side of the front wall it is provided with rearwardly bent attaching flanges 3- and 35 and an intermediate attaching flange 31'. The flanges 34 and 35 on each side of the front are bent inwardly into contact with the body members I4 above and belov, respectively, the channel portions 29 thereof and are welded on the outside of the side walls 28. The intermediate attaching flanges 31 are welded to the outsides of the respective channel portions 29.

The back I1 of the tray II is provided at each of its side edges with a pair of forwardly-projecting, vertically-spaced tabs 39 and 49. Each pair of tabs is attached, preferably by welding, to the inner face of the side wall 28 of one of the body members I4 above and below, respectively, the channel portion 29 thereof. The top of the back I! is provided 'with a forwardly turned bead 42 through which there extends a rod or heavy wire 43. The projecting ends of the rod 43 are bent forwardly and each end extends into the rear of one of the beads 33 formed at the tops of the body members I4, thus further reinforcing the sides of the tray. The bottom of the back I1 is curved forwardly below the flanges 40 and is preferably attached by welding to the up-curved ends 46 of the bottom flanges 3| of the body members I4. At the top of the back I'I there is provided a cutout portion 41. This permits the use of the rod or wire 43 as a handle for the rear of the tray.

The tray II is provided at its front end with a handle or ball which is preferably formed of a steel rod bent into a U. A channel-shaped bail retainer 52 is mounted transversely across the front end of the tray II and is preferably held in place by welding the web thereof to the inner face of the front wall I9 with the walls 53 and 54 of the retainer projecting rearwardly. The retainer 52 is provided, adjacent each of its ends, with a pair of registering vertically spaced holes through the walls 53 and 54 thereof. The legs 56 of the U-shaped bail 5| extend downwardly through the pairs of holes in the bail retainer 52. After the bail has thus been assembled with the retainer, the ends of the bail legs 56 may be formed with heads 51 which will thereafter prevent the bail from being removed from the retainer.

The inner front I3 of the tray I I is rectangular in shape with forwardly projecting flanges on all sides thereof that abut the inner face of the outer tray front I2. The upper flange 6! of the inner tray front I3 covers the top wall 53 of the bail retainer 52 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 62. Suitably spaced slots 63 are provided in the flange 6| to receive the legs 56 of the bail 5|. The forwardly extending flange 64 at the lower end of the inner front |3 rests against the front portions of the bottom flanges 3| of the body members I4.

A channel-shaped guideway or track 68, preferably formed of steel is mounted within each of the outwardly projecting channel portions 29 of the body members I4 and is secured vertically therein, with the flat web portion 69 thereof in face to face contact with the body member, by suitable means such as rivets II. The bottom, inwardly extending flange 12 of each track 68 rests on the bottom of its associated channel portion 29. The inwardly extending flange 13 at the top of each of the track members 68 is turned down at its free end and Serrated to provide a plurality of evenly spaced teeth 16. The two oppositely disposed tracks 68 are so mounted that the teeth on each track 4 member are aligned transversely of the card tray II.

As is customary with card file trays, the tray II is provided with a follower which is movable longitudinally within the tray so the cards therein may be kept in vertical position even when the tray is only partially filled. As will be seen clearly from the drawings, the follower comprises a carriage 19 that extends transversely of the tray II and has at each end thereof a forwardly projecting tongue-like guide 8| adapted for sliding movement along one of the oppositely disposed tracks 68. Each of the guides BI is provided with a plurality of dimples or bosses 82 projecting outwardly from the sides thereof which contact the web 69 of the track member 68 and prevent binding of the guide in the track. The tops of the guide 8| extend upwardly into the spaces between the downwardly projecting teeth 16 and the webs 69 of the tracks 66 and the carriage is thereby prevented from becoming displaced.

A follower plate 84, positioned transversely of the tray II, is attached by suitable means, such as welding, to the carriage 19. The plate 64, the height and width of which are slightly less than the corresponding dimensions of the tray H, is generally rectangular in shape. The top of the plate 84 is formed with a flange 86 which extends rearwardly over the carriage i9 and is provided with a downwardly and outwardly extending skirt 61. A rearwardly and inwardly turned tongue 68 is formed at each end of the follower plate 84 slightly below the middle thereof. Each tongue 88 is received within a slot or notch 89 formed in the lower edge of the follower carriage 19, the follower plate 84 being thereby properly centered with respect to the carriage.

A latch plate 9| that extends transversely of the tray II is also supported by the follower carriage 19. A joggle 92 is formed in the plate 9| intermediate its top and bottom, the top portion being disposed above and in the same plane as the carriage 19. The lower corners of the plate 9| are cut out and the bottom portion of the plate which is situated rearwardly of the carriage I9 is slidable vertically on the carriage under the tongues 88. Each end of the latch plate 9| is provided with a tongue that extends into one of the channels forming the tracks 68 and is bent rearwardly and inwardly therein to form a channel portion 93. Downward movement of the plate 9| is limited by the tongues 86 on the plate 84 engaging the tops of the cutout corners. Its upward movement is limited by the tracks 68, the sides of each channel portion 93 engaging adjoining teeth 16 of opposite tracks.

The latch plate 9| is normally held in raised position in engagement with the teeth 16 by an elongated wire spring 96 which is bent, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to form a bow. The spring 96 has its ends resting on the top of the follower carriage I9 with the bowed portion extending upwardly into contact with the joggle 92 of the plate 9|. A loop or offset portion 98 of the spring engages in a cut-out portion 99 of the latch plate to prevent the spring from shifting. The latch plate 9| may be depressed against the resistance of the spring 96 and disengaged from the teeth 16 by a button I90 formed on the upper edge thereof by bending over an upwardly projecting tongue thereon. The latch release button I69 extends upwardly through an orifice I9I provided in the center of the top flange 86 of the follower plate 84 to make it convenient for manual operation.

A card compressor mechanism operable to exert pressure on a quantity of cards contained in the tray II is shown in the drawings mounted on the forward side of the follower plate 84. The compressor comprises an anchor plate or support I02 which is provided at each of its ends with horizontal, rearwardly extending top and bottom flanges I83 and I 04, respectively, the flanges I 03 being bent upwardly at their free ends and the flanges I05 being bent downwardly at their free ends. The support I02 is mounted on the follower plate 8:2 within the file tray II and transversely of the tray, by welding the bent ends of the vertically-spaced flanges I 03 and I04 to the plate 8 The top and bottom flanges I03 and I04 on the anchor plate I02 are equal in width so that the anchor plate is parallel to but spaced forwardly in the tray I I from the follower plate. A cam slot IIIB extending transversely of the tray II and parallel to the anchor plate is provided through each of the upper flanges I03. A similar cam slot I09 is provided through each of the bottom flanges I 3, the slots I09 being directly below and registering with the slots I08 in the upper flanges.

A compressor plate III is supported by the anchor plate I02 transversely of the file tray II. A cam channel I I2 is secured by suitable means such as welding to one face of the plate III adjacent each end thereof. The horizontal, vertically-spaced, rearwardly-extending legs or flanges IIS of the channels II2 project through narrow, horizontal slots II l formed in the face of the anchor plate I02 adjacent each end thereof between and directly below and above, respectively, the flanges I63 and I04. The compressor plate III is thereby slidably supported for reciprocating movement longitudinally of the tray I I by the anchor plate I02.

As seen best in Fig. '7, each of the cam channels I I2 is provided with a pair of cam slots I It through the legs H3 thereof. The slots H6 are all disposed at identical slight horizontal angles to the plate III and each of the slots has, at its end farthest from the plate I I I, a short por-- tion Ill parallel to the plate. The pair of cam slots H5 in each cam channel IIZ are in vertical registry and are horizontally spaced to register with the cooperating cam slots I03 and its in the flanges I03 and I M, respectively, of the support I02.

The compressor plate I I I and the anchor plate I62 are maintained in assembled relation by a pair of vertical pins IIS having enlarged heads I253. Each pin H9 passes downwardly through the slot I03 in one of the flanges I03, through the registering slots H6 in the associated cam channel H2 and through the cam slot I09 in the lower flange Itt of the anchor plate I02. A pin bar or support I2I is slidably supported at its ends by the flanges H3 of the cam channels H2 and is provided at each of its ends with a rolled, substantially cylindrical portion I22 that encircles one of the pins II9. The pins are thus held in spaced relationship transversely of the tray I I and are simultaneously movable lengthwise of the cam slots I08, I09 and HE.

A lever I23 for actuation of the pin bar I2I is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a stud I that passes through an orifice I 25 in the lever. A reduced end of the stud I24 passes through a washer I26 and the hole I21 in the anchor plate I02 and is there headed over or riveted to the anchor plate. The other end of the lever I23 is bent to form a thumb grip I28. The pin bar or support I2I and the lever I23 are operatively connected by another stud I30 mounted on the support. The stud I30 has a reduced portion that extends through a hole I3I in the pin bar and is riveted or headed over to hold it in place. Intermediate its ends, the stud I30 passes through a slot I34 which extends longitudinally of the lever I23. The pins H9 are retained in place in the cam slots I08, I09 and I I t by providing, adjacent the lower end of each of the pins, a groove I36 adapted to receive an E retaining ring I 31.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides for a card flle tray in which the cards may be kept in erect position by a follower and may, when desired, be clamped tightly in the tray by operation of the compressor. From the description and drawings, the construction of the tray, the follower, and the compressor mechanism will be clearly understood. The operation and use of the improved tray of the present invention is as follows.

A number of file cards, indicated diagrammatically by the reference character I40 (see Figs. 1, 4:, and 5), are placed in the tray II. The follower latch 9! is actuated to disengage it from the teeth It of the guide tracks 68 by pressing downwardly on the release button I00. The follower may then be moved forwardly in the tray I I, while supported and maintained in alignment by the guides BI sliding in the tracks 68, until the compressor plate I I I comes into contact with the file cards I 30, as shown in Fig. 5. During normal use of the file tray this is all that is required. As cards are withdrawn from the tray II the follower may be moved forwardly in the tray to prevent the remaining cards from falling over, or, if more cards are placed in the tray, the follower may be moved rearwardly in the tray to provide the space necessary therefor.

When, however, it is desired to carry or store the tray, it is desirable to make certain that the cards will not fall out of the tray or be sufficiently loose therein that they may warp or be accidentally bent or creased. Accordingly, the cards I 40 are placed under compression by actuation of the lever I23 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and in full lines in Fig. 6, from the position shown in Fig. 5, and by the broken lines in Fig. 6. It will be clearly seen from the drawings that such movement of the lever I23 causes transverse shifting of the pin bar which sup ports the pins I I9.

The slots I08 and I I33 in the flanges of the compressor anchor plate I02 may be regarded as fixed when the follower latch 9i engages the teeth It. Consequently, moving the pins IIQ simultaneously from the right ends of the slots I08 and I 09, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6, to the left ends thereof will bring about outward movement of the compressor plate I I I as the pins move along the angularly disposed slots IIS, the plate II I remaining parallel to the vertical face of the support I02 at all times. The portions III of the cams I I6 which are parallel to the compressor plate III and to the slots I08 and I 053 serve as locking means to prevent vibration or longitudinal pressure from causing release of the compression exerted on the cards I40 by the plate III. Release of the compression is, however, easily obtained when desired by pivotal movement of the lever I23 in the opposite direction, thus retracting the compressor plate III as the pins IIG move to the right ends of the cam: slots, as viewed in Fig; 1.

As shown, in the drawings, a second card compressor is provided at the front of the file tray I i. This compressor may be, as shown, identical with the compressor hitherto described except for the fact that the-vertically bent portions of the flanges I03 and H14 of the support or anchor plate I02 are attached, preferably by welding, to the inner front member I 3 of the tray. The provision of two compressors is particularly desirable where long trays are employed since the compression of a large number of cards from one end only is difiicult. With two compressors acting against opposite ends of the array of cards, the cards in even extremely long trays may be clamped in place so securely that the tray may be inverted without danger of any cards falling out. It will be clear that where two compressors are provided, one in the front of the tray and the other carried by the follower, either or both may be used as desired and, moreover, that although one compressor is carried by the follower, the action of the compressor and follower are independent, the actuating means for each being. separate and distinct.

As will be evident from the description given above, a file compressor embodying the present invention is highly advantageous. Space is conserved by having the actuating lever pivoted so as to move transversely of the tray. The cam slot and pin arrangement for reciprocating the compressor plate is simple and rugged and is capable of providing a high compressive force. Jamming or bending of the cards in the tray is prevented by forming the compressor plate with a flat faoc substantially the same size as the cards and by supporting and guiding the plate at a plurality of points for sliding reciprocating movement while it is maintained in a vertical position transversely of the tray. Independence in operation of the follower and the compressor is achieved by having the compressor actuating lever separate from from the follower latch release.

Obviously many changes and modifications may be made in the construction described and shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the foregoing description is not to be considered as limiting the invention but that the invention should be interpreted broadly and limited only by the appended claims,

The invention claimed is:

l. A filing device comprising in combination, a file tray having a front wall, a back wall, and a pair of longitudinal side walls; a pair of tracks extending between the front and the back walls; each track being carried by one of the side walls and having a series of longitudinally spaced teeth; a card follower movable longitudinally of the tray and having a latch engaging said teeth to hold said follower at a predetermined position, said latch being disengageable from said teeth to permit of longitudinal adjustment of said follower relative to said tray, card compressor means car ried by said follower having a compressor plate extending transversely of said tray, a plurality of flanges mounted on said plate having pairs of complementary cam grooves therein vertically and laterally spaced from each other, a pair of laterally spaced pins mounted on said follower to move transversely relative thereto in unison, each pin passing through a pair of said spaced cam grooves in vertical alignment; and a lever opcratively connected to said pins to move them in unison transversely of said follower, to cause said plate to be longitudinally moved relative to said follower by action of the pins and cam grooves while maintaining said plate in a single transverse plane relative to the tray even when a compressive force is being applied to material between said plate and the front wall of the tray.

2. A filing device according to claim 1 in which each cam groove is formed as a slot angularly disposed to the plane of the compression plate in which slots the pins ride to move the plate relative to the follower by riding the slope of the slots, there being a portion at one end of each slot parallel to the plane of the plate into which the pins can slide to lock the plate in position of greatest compression.

3. A filing device according to claim 1 in which the lever is pivotally mounted on the follower at one end to move in an arcuate path transverse of the tray and the pins are mounted on a bar pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of said lever, to move therewith and cause said pins to slide within said cam grooves.

4. In a file tray having a front wall, a back wall and a pair of longitudinal side walls, a pair of tracks extending between the front and the back walls of said tray, each track being carried by one of said side walls and being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced teeth; a card follower movable longitudinally of said tray and having a latch adapted to engage said teeth, the combination therewith a card compressing means, comprising an anchor plate disposed transversely of said tray; a pair of horizontal vertically spaced flanges extending outwardly from one face of said plate at each end thereof, each of said flanges being provided with a cam slot, said cam slots extending parallel to said anchor plate with the slots in said flanges at each end of said plate in registry; a movable compressor plate extending transversely of said tray and having a pair of channel members secured to one of its faces, one adjacent each end thereof, the legs of each of said channel members extending horizontally outwardly from said compressor plate and slidably engaging said anchor plate; a cam slot in each leg of the channels complementary in shape to each other, said cam slots being angularly disposed with respect to said compressor plate and being horizontally spaced to register, respectively, with the parallel cam slots in said pairs of flanges; a pair of pins, each of said pins passing through the cam slots in one pair of said flanges and through a pair of the corresponding inclined cam slots in said channels, said pins being movable lengthwise of said slots, a bar joining said pins and holding them in horizontally spaced relation, a lever ivotally mounted on said anchor plate and operatively connected to said bar for imparting transverse movement thereto to move said pins, said bar being pivotally mounted upon said lever, whereby said compressor plate can be moved bodily longitudinally of the tray and relative to said follower.

5,. A file tray according to claim 4 in which said cam slots have a terminal portion which is parallel to said compressor plate in which said pins may be engaged to lock said compressor plate in fully compressed position.

6. In a file tray having a pair of longitudinal side walls, a front wall and a back wall, a pair of tracks extending between the front and the back walls of said tray, each track being carried by one of said side Walls and being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced teeth, a card follower movable longitudinally of said tray and having a latch adapted to engage said teeth to hold said follower in position, the combination therewith of card compressing means, comprising an anchor plate disposed transversely of said tray, a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced flanges extending outwardly from one face of said plate at each end thereof and having means for mounting said anchor plate within said tray, each of said flanges being provided with a cam slot which extends parallel to said anchor plate, the slots in said flanges at each end of said plate being in vertical registry, a movable compressor plate extending transversely of said tray and having a channel member secured to one of its faces adjacent each end thereof, the legs of each of said channels extending horizontally outwardly from said compressor plate, each of said legs being provided with a cam slot angularly disposed with respect to said follower plate, the pair of cam slots in each of said channel members being horizontally spaced to register with the pair of cam slots in one of said pairs of flanges, a pair of pins, each of said pins passing through the cam slots in one of said channel members and the corresponding cam slots in said flanges, said pins being movable lengthwise of said slots, means for holding said pins in horizontally spaced relation, and a lever pivotally mounted on said anchor plate and on said follower and operatively connected to said pins for imparting simultaneous transverse movement thereto, whereby said compressor will be longitudinally moved relative to said follower by the camming action of said pins and cam slots, to compress material between said compressor plate and the front wall of said tray,

7. A filing device comprising in combination a file tray having front, back and side walls, a pair of tracks extending between the front and back walls, a rack on said track, a card follower movable longitudinally of the tray and latchable onto said rack at any desired position, a card compressor means carried by said follower comprising a compressor plate extending transversely of said tray, a plurality of flanges mounted on said plate each having a cam groove therein of complementary contour to the other cam grooves; said grooves being laterally and vertically spaced apart, a pair of vertically extending pins laterally spaced apart and mounted to move in unison on and relative to said follower, each pin passing through a registered pair of said vertically spaced cam grooves, and a lever operatively connected to said pins to move them simultaneously transversely of said tray, to cause longitudinal move ment of said plate bodily in a plane lateral of said tray.

JOHN W. KENT.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,462 Spiro Aug. 13, 1907 1,114,081 Weiss Oct. 20, 1914 2,124,511 Schmitz July 19, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 0242 F an e 36 

